Orion, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the spotlight now squarely on them, was a little surprised at how King Brylon's voice effortlessly filled the expansive hall, reaching every corner of the grand amphitheatre.
Just as he was contemplating this, he felt a discreet pinch on his right arm. It was Flintor, silently urging him to step forward. Recognizing the summons, Orion walked forward, positioning himself behind Princess Crystalia and Queen Selene, until he arrived at King Brylon's right-hand side.
As Orion stood at King Brylon's side, he observed the curious gazes of all the guests fixated on them. "For those of you who have heard the rumours and seek confirmation, and for those who remain uncertain," King Brylon said, acknowledging the widespread gossip that had undoubtedly reached the major clans, while the smaller clans looked on in confusion. He continued with a confident tone, "I am here to confirm that the rumours are indeed true."
He invited everyone to raise a toast and celebrate, revealing, "We, the Prismerian people, will no longer be imprisoned in this mountain."
The anticipation in the hall grew palpable. "With every clan and family present, I want to take this opportunity to introduce to you the first foreigner to set foot in the Primserian Kingdom in several thousand years!" King Brylon proclaimed with enthusiasm. "Everyone, I present to you, Orion!!"
At this cue, Orion swiftly and gently untied the scarf from around his neck, revealing his hair flowing freely around him.
The hall fell deathly silent, so quiet that it seemed as if a dropped needle could resound throughout the entire amphitheatre.
Then, in the space of a breath, the room erupted into a cacophony of noise. Voices from the numerous guests rang out, filling the air with a buzz of excitement and chatter.
"A FOREIGNER!! A FOREIGNER FROM OUTSIDE THE MOUNTAIN!!!"
"IMPOSSIBLE!! THIS… THIS SHOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE, WE NEED TO VERIFY IF HE IS AN IMPOSTER!!"
"YOUR HIGHNESS, IF THIS IS TRUE, THEN DOESN'T THAT MEAN THAT NAKA HAS NOT FORSAKEN US!! NAKA.... OUR GOD HAS NOT FORSAKEN US!!"
The atmosphere crackled with excitement as the seconds ticked by. Attendees from the smaller clans and invited city families, who had been completely unaware of this event until today, voiced their emotions regarding this astonishing revelation.
Meanwhile, those from the major clans, who had already heard about Orion's existence, had expressed their shock earlier and now watched with a sense of calm curiosity.
They couldn't help but wonder why the king had chosen this moment to reveal such groundbreaking information, especially considering that the event had taken place just two days ago.
Shouldn't he have waited for a few more months or days before making such an announcement?
Certainly, even if he was aware that he couldn't keep such news a secret for long, shouldn't he also have realized that doing this would be akin to broadcasting it to the entire kingdom?
After all, no one would be able to keep such momentous news to themselves, and even if they did, sooner or later, the information would inevitably spread through the conversations of every citizen in the kingdom, like wildfire, until it finally reached and echoed throughout the castle.
King Brylon immediately hushed the hall, his commanding presence filling the space as he began to speak, "I am well aware of your concerns and your thoughts, and I want you all to understand that I've thoroughly considered them. Throughout this deliberation, I've reached the conclusion that it's best to reveal this information right now. This way, we can all work together with the hope of finally emerging from this mountain, not just as a kingdom, but as a people."
"We will show our ancestors that we've accomplished what none of them had the chance to achieve, and we'll let the world know that it's time for us to leave this ancient, secluded mountain."
King Brylon's words resonated deeply, not only with Orion but with everyone present. It was clear that the king possessed a remarkable charisma, perfectly suited for his role.
Witnessing this, Orion couldn't help but acknowledge that King Brylon was indeed a decent king, both in speech and demeanour.
As the King and Queen raised their crystal-clear glasses and sipped the fruity wine, a wave of toasting rippled through the seats. Despite their rivalry, a few of the major clan leaders exchanged knowing glances, silently acknowledging their shared understanding of King Brylon's intentions.
Before being rivals, their foremost duty was maintaining the kingdom's order, and that responsibility weighed heavily on each of them.
Clan Head Garnet couldn't help but express his displeasure, clicking his tongue in irritation. "What a shame! I would have preferred it if he had decided to keep everything a secret." While they had already anticipated such an event when they first saw Orion, hearing the king's words only confirmed their suspicions regarding his intentions.
"Humph! So what's your plan now?" Elara asked with a sly smile as she sipped her wine, observing her husband's annoyance.
"There's still time to bide," Clan Head Garnet replied, locking eyes with the vibrant, ash-coloured irises of the Luminaris Clan Head, who sat far across the grand amphitheatre.
He refocused on his empty glass, downing its contents in one swift motion, and then handed it to a nearby servant. "Hopefully, the King is ready for the surprise we've arranged for him."
Elara arched an eyebrow at her husband's words. She hoped he wouldn't do anything that might jeopardize the Gemheart Clan, given their already precarious position on the kingdom's watchlist.
She emptied her crystal-clear glass and handed it to a nearby servant.
"While I'm not fully aware of your plans or intentions," she said, "...whatever it is, I hope you've thought it through carefully before putting it into motion."
"Don't worry," Clan Head Garnet reassured her. "I'm confident it's something everyone will enjoy." He shifted his focus back to King Brylon, then glanced down at his son seated below him, wondering when the true purpose of the banquet would be revealed.
